12 With the Jews. This passage is quoted by modern
Muslims in justification of their indifference with
respect to the propagation of their religion.
“The number of the faithful,” said one
of them to Mr. Lane, “is decreed by God, and
no act of man can increase or diminish it.”
Mod. Egypt. i. p. 364. Nöldeke supposes
this verse to have been revealed at Medina, and renders,
Contend not except in the best way, i.e. not by
words but by force.

13 Idols.

14 That is, you may find places of refuge where you
may worship the true God in some other parts of the
earth, if driven forth from your native city.
This verse is very indicative of a late Meccan origin.
Flight from Mecca must have been imminent when Muhammad
could thus write.

15 Lit. carry not. Comp. Matth. vi. 26;
Luke xii. 24.

16 At Mecca.

SURA XXXI.-LOKMAN1 [LXXXII.]

Mecca.-34 Verses

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

ELIF. Lam. Mim.2 These are the
verses (signs) of the wise Book,

A guidance and a mercy to the righteous,

Who observe prayer, and pay the impost,3 and believe
firmly in the life to come:-

These rest on guidance from their Lord, and with these
it shall be well.

But a man there is4 who buyeth an idle tale, that
in his lack of knowledge he may mislead others from
the way of God, and turn it to scorn. For such
is prepared a shameful punishment!

And when our signs are rehearsed to him, he turneth
away disdainfully, as though he heard them not,-as
though his ears were heavy with deafness. Announce
to him therefore tidings of an afflictive punishment!

But they who shall have believed and wrought good
works, shall enjoy the gardens of delight:

For ever shall they dwell therein: it is God’s
true promise! and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

Without pillars that can be seen hath He created the
heavens, and on the earth hath thrown mountains lest
it should move with you;5 and He hath scattered over
it animals of every sort: and from the Heaven
we send down rain and cause every kind of noble plant
to grow up therein.

This is the creation of God: Shew me now what
others than He have created. Ah! the ungodly
are in a manifest delusion.

Of old we bestowed wisdom upon Lokman, and taught
him thus-"Be thankful to God: for whoever is
thankful, is thankful to his own behoof; and if any
shall be thankless . . . God truly is self-sufficient,
worthy of all praise!”

And bear in mind when Lokman said to his son by way
of warning, “O my son! join not other gods with
God, for the joining gods with God is the great impiety.”